AFRO-ASIAN LITERATURE

REPORTERS
•Olpos, Sheineca A.
•Escarza, Felrian L.
•Diamante, Vanness C.
•Biliot, Richelle Mae G.

OBJECTIVES:
° Define African Literature.
° Enumerate the Characteristics of African Literature.
° Appreciate the works of the Writers and Poets of African Literature.

🎯 LITERATURE
° Latin word "littera" meaning letter of alphabet or handwriting.

🎯 IMPORTANCE OF LITERATURE

1. Literature allows a person to step back in time and learn about life on Earth from the ones
who walked before us.
2. We can gather a better understanding of culture and have a greater appreciation.
3. We learn through the ways history is recorded, in the forms of manuscript and through
speech itself.

AFRICAN LITERATURE
° The body of traditional oral and written literatures in Afro-Asiatic and African languages.

🎯 4 TYPES OF AFRICAN LITERATURE

1. Oral Literature
2. Pre- Colonial African Literature
3. Colonial African Literature
4. Post Colonial African Literature

🎯 CHARACTERISTICS OF AFRICAN LITERATURE

1. Slave Narratives
° Written by slaves about their lives after escaping to freedom.

2. Protests against Colonization

° African writers aimed at revealing the social evils of colonial rule and to encourage a sense
of African.
3. Calls for Independence
° Independence campaign were led by nationalist leaders with charismatic personalities and
great intellectual ability.
4. African Pride
° Creating African identities the promote the idea of a cultural movement.

5. Hope for the future

° Focuses on the literature of hope over the betrayal of the goals of liberation struggles in
Africa.

African Writers and Poets

1. Chinua Achebe (Nigeria):
- Known for his novel "Things Fall Apart," Achebe is considered one of Africa's greatest
novelists. His works explore the clash between traditional African cultures and colonialism.

2. Wole Soyinka (Nigeria):

- A Nobel laureate in Literature, Soyinka is celebrated for his plays, essays, and poetry. His
works often tackle political and social issues in Nigeria and beyond.

3. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (Nigeria):

- A contemporary writer, Adichie has gained international acclaim for novels like "Half of a
Yellow Sun" and "Americanah." She addresses themes such as identity, feminism, and post-
colonialism.

4. Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o (Kenya):

- Ngũgĩ is renowned for his novels and plays, including "Petals of Blood" and
"Decolonising the Mind." He advocates for African languages and culture in literature.

5. Ama Ata Aidoo (Ghana):

- A feminist writer and playwright, Aidoo's works, such as "Changes" and "Our Sister
Killjoy," explore gender issues and the complexities of African society.

6. Leopold Sédar Senghor (Senegal):

- Senghor was not only a poet but also the first President of Senegal. His poetry focused on
themes of African identity and Negritude, a literary and cultural movement.

7. Mariama Bâ (Senegal):
- Bâ's novel "So Long a Letter" is a classic of African feminist literature, addressing themes
of polygamy, tradition, and women's rights.

8. Mahmoud Darwish (Palestine):

- While not African by birth, Darwish's poetry has had a significant influence on African
literature, touching on themes of exile, identity, and resistance.

9. Okot p'Bitek (Uganda):

- P'Bitek's epic poem "Song of Lawino" is a landmark work addressing the clash between
traditional African culture and Western influence.

10. Léon Gontran Damas (French Guiana):

 - A key figure in the Negritude movement, Damas's poetry reflects the struggle for Black
identity and pride.

African Poems and Short Stories

POEMS
In Another World
by Rasaq Malik
In another world, I want to be a father without
passing through the eternal insanity of mourning
my children, without experiencing the ritual
of watching my children return home as bodies
folded like a prayer mat, without spending my
nights telling them the stories of a hometown
where natives become aliens searching for
a shelter. I want my children to spread a mat
outside my house and play without the walls
of houses ripped by rifles. I want to watch my children
grow to recite the name of their homeland like the Lord’s
Prayer, to frolic in the streets without being hunted like
animals in the bush, without being mobbed to death.
In another world I want my children to tame grasshoppers
in the field, to play with their dolls in the living room,
to inhale the fragrance of flowers waving as the wind blows,
to see the birds measure the sky with their wings.

“Do not fear the past”

By Zuhura Seng’enge

“Do not fear the past.

It is painful
but it is real
Blood was spilt and people died
but love and unity had survived.”

Bottoms Up!”
By Ama Nuamah

“To the children we call our future

Who have no shoes to put on their feet
Who have barely any food to eat
Who believe in some unreal hope
But still dare to dream
Wild and free.”

“One”
By Sage Hasson

“Billions of people all struggling to [fulfill] seeming different agenda

But we all are in pursuit of one collective destiny
We all need just one
One dream
One day
One hour
One minute
One second
One moment.”

My African Dream
By Carike Klokow
My dream, a dream of peace
a dream of laughter and ease
children running free
playing in the streets
without violence just peace.

A dream of sunrise and sunsets

the african way
where our hearts stay,
acceptance as we are
like just another star.

For this we are yearning

respect we are earning
Africa the nation without race
Africa the reflection of my face

SHORT STORIES
African Literature

African literature is a rich and diverse body of literary works that encompasses the literary
traditions, cultures, languages, and experiences of the African continent.

● novels,
● short stories,
● poetry,
● drama,
● oral storytelling,
● essays,
___________________________________________________________________

📌SUGGESTED LITERARY PIECES

📍African Literature (OVERVIEW)

African Literature
-is a rich and diverse body of literary works that encompasses the literary traditions cultures,
languages, and experiences of the African continent.

•Novels
•Short Stories
•Poetry
•Drama
•Oral Storytelling
•Essays
FIRST SUGGESTED LITERARY PIECE

David Mandessi Diop (1927-1960) was a renowned Senegalese poet and writer. His
impactful poetry addressed colonialism, African identity, and social justice, with the
famous poem “Africa” as a standout example. Despite his brief life, Diop’s literary
contributions continue to inspire generations of African writers.

AFRICA
By: David Leon Mandessi Diop

Africa my Africa
Africa of proud warriors in ancestral savannahs
Africa of whom my grandmother sings
On the banks of the distant river
I have never known you
But your blood flows in my veins
Your beautiful black blood that irrigates the fields
The blood of your sweat
The sweat of your work
The work of your slavery
Africa, tell me Africa
Is this your back that is unbent
This back that never breaks under the weight of humilation
This back trembling with red scars
And saying no to the whip under the midday sun
But a grave voice answers me
Impetuous child that tree, young and strong
That tree over there
Splendidly alone amidst white and faded flowers
That is your Africa springing up anew
Springing up patiently, obstinately
Whose fruit bit by bit acquires
The bitter taste of liberty.

CONTEXT:
The poet talks about his strong feelings for Africa

THEME:
Nationalism

PHILOSOPHY:
Centers on themes of cultural pride, resilience,
historical reflection, and optimism for the future

SECOND SUGGESTED LITERARY PIECE

I

Nadine Gordimer (1923-2014) was a prominent South African writer and Nobel
laureate in literature. Her compelling works delved into apartheid-era South Africa,
exploring themes of racial injustice, social change, and human relationships.
Gordimer’s notable novels, such as “Burger’s Daughter” and “July’s People,” left an
enduring impact on literature and activism, making her a literary icon in the fight
against apartheid.

ONCE UPON A TIME

By: Nadine Gordimer

SUMMARY OF THE STORY (Full story needs payment to access)

In the story, the family is disturbed by the rising crime rates in their neighborhood and
becomes increasingly paranoid about their safety. They take various security measures to
protect themselves, such as installing alarms, fences, and even getting a guard dog. Their
house becomes a fortress.(similar to a castle)

Despite their efforts, the family still feels vulnerable and fearful. One night, they receive a
letter from someone unknown, which adds to their anxiety. They take extreme precautions to
prevent any potential threats.
As the story unfolds, it is revealed that the family’s extreme security measures lead to a tragic
accident. Their young son tries to climb the high fence in their yard to retrieve his ball but
gets impaled and dies. The family’s obsession with security ultimately leads to the loss of
their own child.

“Once Upon a Time” by Nadine Gordimer explores the idea that excessive fear and an
obsession with security can have unintended and tragic consequences. It serves as a
commentary on the social and political climate of apartheid-era South Africa, where fear and
division were prevalent.

CONTEXT:
Excessive fear and an obsession with security can have unintended and tragic consequences

THEME:
Fear and Anxiety

PHILOSOPHY
Too much safety can be lethal

THIRD SUGGESTED LITERARY PIECE

Mabel Dove Danquah (1910-1984) was a Ghanaian writer, journalist, and women’s
rights activist. She was a trailblazing figure in Ghanaian literature, known for her
insightful essays, journalism, and her role in advocating for women’s rights. Danquah’s
works contributed to the promotion of gender equality and the cultural and political
landscape of Ghana. She was a pioneer in her time, leaving a lasting legacy in both
literature and activism.

ANTICIPATION
By: Mabel Dove Danquah

SUMMARY OF THE STORY (Full story needs payment to access)

Ø Exposition
The Omanhene was celebrating the 20th anniversary of his accession to be the head chief or
leader of Akwasin. He then arrived in a palanquin in the state park where the Odwina was to
be staged. As the drum beats on the women performed the Adowa dance. One dancer capture
his attention because of its beauty, he then threw a handful of loose cash into the crowd of
dancers. The particular dancer mad no sign but instead keeps on dancing.
Ø Rising Action
Realizing that he was neglected by the dancer, he turned to his trusted linguist. He told him to
get fifty pounds from the cashier and gave it to the dancer’s relatives. The linguist then starts
his investigation about the woman.

Ø Climax
Nana went back to his place. He then fell asleep after he had taken a bath. When he woke up
the young woman was kneeling by his feet. There he gave the remaining 50 gold sovereigns
to Effua to complete the offer of 100. After receiving the amount the woman gave it to his
parents and went back to the Omanhene.

Ø Falling action
There they talk casually inside the Omanhene’s room. Omanhene appreciated the beauty and
charm of Effua while he was playing the ivory beads lying so snugly on her bosom.

Ø Denouement
Effua stands and look in the mirror. As she came back and sit, she then revealed that they
were already married two years ago, that he also paid her 50 pounds before.

CONTEXT:
Money change a person’s perspective

THEME:
Expect nothing, appreciate everything.
PHILOSOPHY:
Life is not always as ideal as it seem.